Sewing device



y 1969 D. D. GIBSON 3,442,235

SEWING DEVICE Filed Aug. 17. 1966 INVENTO'R. DORTHEY 0. GIBSON FIG. 3. 7g 1 w United States Patent 3,442,235 SEWING DEVICE Dorthey D. Gibson, 17950 Graystone Lane, San Jose, Calif. 95120 Filed Aug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 573,104 Int. Cl. D05b 1/00; A4111 31/00 US. Cl. 112--169 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Specification The present invention relates to sewing, and more particularly to a device for, and a method of, sewing.

Sewing devices and methods have been well-known in the prior art. Such devices and methods have, however, often presented a number of disadvantages, particularly when employed for the sewing together of cloth sections, such as, for example, when hemstitching. Thus, the conventional sewing devices and sewing methods often produce stitching which tends to readily become unraveled. Attempts have been made to produce more secure stitching for hems and other purposes. However, the sewing devices here employed have often been of relatively complex structure, and have been difiicult to handle. In

7 addition, such devices have usually required the use of spools of thread of a particular size; or of specially made cartridges for the thread. The know methods have often been unduly complex. In addition, such methods have often presented problems with respect to the handling of the thread, and particularly with respect to the maintenance of a relatively slight degree of tension in the thread.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sewing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sewing device for hemstitching and like purposes, which device is of relatively simple structure, and is relatively easily operated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of sewing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sewing method for the provision of improved stitching for hems and the like.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the sewing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the sewing device employed in the method of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan, being partly broken away, of material sewed in accordance with the method of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a sewing device 10 constructed in accordance with the invention, and being manually held in an operative position.

The sewing device 10 (see also FIG. 2.) is constructed of a needle 12 which is formed at its outer end with a point 14. Cut through the needle 12, adjacent the point 14, is a thread-receiving eye 16. At its inner end 18, and opposite the point 14, the needle '12 is provided with a shank 20. As seen at 22, the needle 12 is curved between the point 14 and the shank 20.

A handle 24 is provided for mounting the needle 12. The handle 24 is of elongate shape, being preferably constructed of wood. The shank 20 is secured to the inner end 26 of the handle 24, in a conventional manner.

Tension means are provided on the handle 24 for tensioning thread 28 to the eye 16. Such tension means are in the form of a hook-shaped cloth covered wire guide member 30, which is mounted on a side surface 32 of the handle 24, and adjacent the inner end 26 of the latter.

Means are also provided for guiding the thread 28 during use of the sewing device 10. Such guide means are in the form of a guide member 34, which projects from a side surface 36 of the handle 24. The surface 36 extends generally perpendicularly to the surface 32, and the member 34 is mounted on the former in a position approximately midway between the inner ends 26 and the outer end 38 of the handle 24. The guide member 34 is in the form of a pin 40, a portion of which is bent to provide a reverse curve 42. An eye 44 is located at the center of the reverse curve 42.

The operation of the sewing device 10 will be described with particular reference to FIGS 1 and 3. Here, the device 10 is employed for the provision of stitching 46 for the securing of a hem 48 to a sheet of cloth 50. The hem 48 is provided, adjacent the upper edge 52 thereof, with a conventional tape 54. The hem 48 is preferably initially basted to the sheet 50, by conventional stitching (not shown), through the tape 54.

In employing the sewing device 10, thread 28, such as may be received from a spool 56, is initially passed through the eye 44 of the guide member 34, and is then brought into engagement with the hook-shaped tension member 30. The thread 28 may then be threaded through the eye 16 of the point 14. The threading of the point 14 is accomplished without breaking of the thread 28.

The point 14 may then be positioned in contact with the inner surface 58 of the sheet 50, and generally opposlte the outer edge 52 of the tape 54. The point '14 is then inserted through the sheet 50 and so as to form, at the outer surface 60 of the latter, a comparatively small stitch 62. The movement of the point 14 is then continued so that it will also penetrate the tape 54 adjacent the outer edge 52 thereof.

As a result of the just described operation, thread 64 will be formed adjacent the point 14, and positioned at the inner surface 66 of the tape 54. The loop 64 may be the more easily seen if the point 14 is moved a short distance in the direction of withdrawal from the tape 54. The loop 64 is then manually held in position at the inner surface 66 of the tape 54, while at the same time the point 14 is withdrawn from both the tape 54 and the sheet 50. The point 14 is then inserted within the loop 64, and the latter is extended beyond the outer edge 52 of the tape 54. The point 14 is then further passed through the loop 64, and into the sheet 50, to form a further stitch 62, identical to the first stitch 62 previously described. The method is then continued, in the manner described, and until a suitable number of loop stitches 64 have been formed, for securing the hem 48 to the sheet 50.

In the method of use of the sewing device 50, as just described, the thread 28 is continuously drawn from the spool 56. The guide member 34 and the tension member 30 cooperate to maintain the portion of thread 28 therebetween, under a substantially constant, relatively slight tension.

a loop of The sewing device and method of the invention provide a number of unusual advantages. Thus, the device 10 is of relatively small size and of light weight, and is relatively convenient to handle. Because of the curvature of the needle 12, the loop 64 is formed, seen, and manually held in the desired position with relative ease. In the practice of the method of the invention, any of various sizes of spools 56 of thread 28 may be employed. The spool 56 may be positioned at any convenient location, and possibly at a comparatively remote distance from the position of the sewer. The thread 28 may be used without preliminary breakage thereof, and is continuously supplied from the spool 56. Only the necessary amount of thread 28 is employed. The guide member 34, in cooperation with the tension member 30, prevents the possible build-up of undesirably great tension in the thread 23.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A sewing device comprising a needle having a point, said point being provided with 'a thread-receiving eye, said needle being curved adjacent said point, a handle, said needle being mounted on said handle, said handle being provided with guide means for said thread, said handle being further provided with means for tensioning said thread, said tensioning means being formed of cloth covered wire and being cooperative with said guide means to maintain said thread under substantially constant tension.

2. A sewing device in accordance with claim 1, in which said handle is provided with an inner end for mounting said needle, said tension means comprising a hook-shaped guide member mounted on the surface of said handle and adjacent said inner end and being formed of said cloth covered wire.

3. A sewing device in accordance with claim 1, in which said guide means comprise a guide member projecting from the surface of said handle and spaced from said tensioning means, said guide member being formed with an eye for receiving thread to be passed to said tension means.

4. A sewing device in accordance with claim 3, in which said guide member is in the form of a pin, said pin being bent to form a reverse curve, said eye being located at the center of said reverse curve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I Summers 223104 JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 223104 

